Review: Zero Stars Travel Show Features Sara Pascoe and Roisin Conaty
The Guardian reviews 'Zero Stars,' a new travel series hosted by comedians Sara Pascoe and Roisin Conaty. Unlike typical celebrity travelogues, which the critic describes as often smug and lazy, this show offers a refreshing alternative by focusing on awful tourist traps, overpriced attractions, and disappointing experiences. The premise involves the hosts exploring destinations like Istanbul to highlight the exploitative side of the tourism industry, such as dodgy food and grumpy tour guides. The review praises the chemistry between Pascoe and Conaty, noting their ability to balance enthusiasm with ridicule while keeping themselves as the primary target of humor. However, the critic points out inconsistencies, arguing that the show sometimes pulls its punches by featuring relatively comfortable accommodations, such as a five-star hotel, rather than truly dreadful conditions. Despite these criticisms, the series is commended for its novel approach and the hosts' capability, marking it as a rare exception in the genre. The review ultimately suggests that while the show aims to depict bad travel experiences, it occasionally contradicts its title by including visually appealing scenes and manageable inconveniences.
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Review: Zero Stars Travel Show Features Sara Pascoe and Roisin Conaty
The Guardian reviews 'Zero Stars,' a new travel series hosted by comedians Sara Pascoe and Roisin Conaty. Unlike typical celebrity travelogues, which the critic describes as often smug and lazy, this show offers a refreshing alternative by focusing on awful tourist traps, overpriced attractions, and disappointing experiences. The premise involves the hosts exploring destinations like Istanbul to highlight the exploitative side of the tourism industry, such as dodgy food and grumpy tour guides. The review praises the chemistry between Pascoe and Conaty, noting their ability to balance enthusiasm with ridicule while keeping themselves as the primary target of humor. However, the critic points out inconsistencies, arguing that the show sometimes pulls its punches by featuring relatively comfortable accommodations, such as a five-star hotel, rather than truly dreadful conditions. Despite these criticisms, the series is commended for its novel approach and the hosts' capability, marking it as a rare exception in the genre. The review ultimately suggests that while the show aims to depict bad travel experiences, it occasionally contradicts its title by including visually appealing scenes and manageable inconveniences.
The Guardian